General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhite men killed more American police than any other group this year,
but conservatives won't address the factshttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-cops-killed-white-men-conservatives-silent-article-1.2632965
The drastic increase shocked the hell out of me. While I primarily track, study and report the number of people killed by police, I still follow police fatalities closely. Contrary to popular belief, despising police brutality does not mean I despise police officers. I appreciate all public servants and have both a police officer and a longtime Secret Service member in my family. They are amazing, kind-hearted men who do great work. I also despise gun violence and loathe every single fatality suffered because of it.
Something's afoot, though, on why we're not hearing much about this shocking increase in the number of officers who've been shot and killed so far in 2016. Sadly, I think I have the answer.
Seventy-one percent of police who've been shot and killed this year weren't murdered by black men with cornrows or hoodies. They weren't gunned down by Latino gang members in low-rider drive-bys. Those stereotypes would be too convenient. Instead, 71% of police who've been shot and killed so far in 2016 have been killed by good old-fashioned white men.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... hate
BlueNoMatterWho
(880 posts)One fact I think folks sometimes forget is that being a cop is a pretty dangerous job. Every time you pull someone over for speeding, knock to serve a warrant or respond to a domestic abuse call there's a chance of getting shot. Of course there are jobs that are more dangerous, but not aware of any job -- other than the military -- where someone is at greater risk of dying due to being shot. And yes, I know that many more people are killed by police than the other way around, but I'm pretty sure that one of the reasons we have the police is to engage the bad guy.
SuperDutyTX
(79 posts)It's my opinion that identity politics/"broad brushing" as it relates to police shootings isn't doing anybody any favors. I strong suspect that the vast majority of people shot by police have already made a series of poor decisions that lead to them being shot (each one needs to be reviewed on their own merits). We obviously have videos of recent shootings that are controversial to say the least, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that even a fraction of a percent of police officers wake up each morning hoping to kill (or even consciously oppress) someone.
Regarding those that shoot police officers, I would completely expect white Americans to shoot more police than any other race; according to Wikipedia, white's make up 72.4% of the US population.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_the_United_States#Race_and_ethnicity
Travis_0004
(5,417 posts)Whites make about 75% of the population, so they are killing cops at a low rate compared to their population.
So why are blacks killing officers at a rate significantly higher than whites when adjusted for population size?
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)I make my meager living teaching students how to spot statistics that lie. I resent authors like this who get large numbers of gullibles to believe untruths by publishing nonsensical statistics.
Analysis... Love it...
Was this not the first question that a person with a basic understanding of statistics and a close guess at the general ethnic makeup of America would ask?
In short, the author only wants folks to bleat the headline and move on.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Many people die from gun violence. One person is too many, we make excuses and count numbers and then more guns sell, something is wrong here, we are smart enough to put a man on the moon but can't stop the gun violence.
DemMomma4Sanders
(274 posts)pushed to the point of violence because of economic inequality, substance abuse or mental illness.
Taking guns away from civilians simply means no one can defend themselves from the future nazi conservative style government that people are voting for internationally.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)If you think the same robot used in Dallas can not be used on those claiming "can defend themselves from the future nazi conservative style government that people are voting for internationally." Which military branch do those who are going to defend themselves will be defeated by those defending themselves?
LisaL
(44,980 posts)Based on statistics, that's what one would expect.
DemMomma4Sanders
(274 posts)So both the media narratives fail miserably.
malaise
(269,257 posts)killed two cops back in 2014. It does not fit into the meme - white supremacy is given a pass with regularity.